The Storytellers Collective will announce their new series, “Story Slams” in an upcoming press release.

An organization of undergraduate and graduate students with a common interest in storytelling, both shared and heard, the ETSU Storytellers Collective come together to host events that do just that.

To kick off the fun, The Down Home in downtown Johnson City will be home to the organization’s first storytelling event of the academic year on Feb. 28. Both community members and ETSU students will be welcomed to the venue starting at 7 p.m. with a 7:30 p.m. start time. Guests are invited to share their personal stories pertaining to the event’s theme, and all they must do is write their name down at the door and wait, as they could be picked to be one of the ten storytellers of the night. If picked, the story must stay between five to six minutes, and will then be voted on for a chance to win a cash prize of $50.

Photo of The Down Home in Johnson City, Tennessee. (Contributed/tnvacation.com)

“I think that hearing people’s true stories is a wonderful way to build community. And there is something so meaningful and powerful in hearing each other’s stories,” said Nancy Donoval, assistant professor and storytelling program head.

The community can also expect more storytelling on Mar. 29 and Apr. 26. There is no pre-registration for each event, it is first come first serve with an encouraged $5 donation for students, $10 for non-students or “pay what you can” due at the door.

The Storytellers Collective has more information to come in relation to the semester’s events. To stay up to date with new information, check out the organization’s Instagram @etsustorytelling. If questions arise, Nancy Donoval can be reached by email at donoval@etsu.edu as well as the organization’s email address, storytel@etsu.edu. The organization is open to all students who are interested, so feel free to stop by for a bimonthly meeting and collaborate with fellow students to brainstorm new ideas.

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